36 arrested in Kanpur for violence over BJP spokesperson’s remarks on the Prophet

Thirty-six people have been arrested in connection with the violence that erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Friday over alleged insulting remarks on Prophet Muhammad by a BJP spokesperson, police said Saturday.

The arrests were made after police went through video clips to identify the people involved in the violence that left more than 40 injured, a NDTV report quoted officials. Police said that three FIRs have been registered in the case against unknown persons.

Police scouring video footage

“More people are being identified on the basis of the videos,” said Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena. He said action will be taken against the conspirators under the Gangster Act, and their property will be seized, the report said.

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Security has been strengthened in the city to avoid any untoward incident.

Violence erupted in parts of Kanpur after Friday prayers as members of two groups clashed and threw stones at each other over a call to shut down markets in protest against BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her alleged comments against Prophet Mohammed during a recent news debate on the Gyanvapi issue.

13 cops, 30 others injured

Thirteen police personnel and 30 people from both sides were injured in the clashes, officials said.

“Some young men number 50-100 suddenly stepped out on the streets and started sloganeering. Another group opposed it and it escalated to stone-throwing. Around 8-10 cops were present at the spot who tried to intervene and controlled the situation to some extent. The control room was informed immediately and senior officials, including me, reached the spot within 10 minutes,” NDTV quoted Meena as saying on Friday.

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